…as communities continue losing hectares of land to alien species
Courage Dutiro
In Zimbabwe, climate change and invasive alien plant species are among the top threats to the ecosystem and Masvingo province has not been spared either.
Invasive alien species are plants that are introduced in an environment where they are not normally found.
Driving along Masvingo-Topora road, one would realise the dominance of the shrub where suffocating of the indigenous species can easily catch one’s eye.
Statistics released by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Masvingo province shows that an estimate of 2473.17 ha of land has been affected by Lantana Camara in the province.
The dominance of Lantana Camara affects ecosystems’ equilibrium which is important in the fight against climate change effects.
A Zero Farm villager in ward 7 of Masvingo Rural District Council who only identified himself as Tatenda said when the plant invades the farming area, it becomes difficult to destroy the plant but the plant leaves are beneficial as they generate organic fertilizer.
“It is difficult to remove Lantana Camara for farming reasons, but when you succeed in clearing the land, the soil will be rich. The plant’s biomasses generate organic fertilizers,” he said.
Communities seem to be surrendering in the battle against Lantana but raising awareness and educating the communities about toxicity of the plant can assist in tackling the problem.
An environmental champion, Tendai Mafuka said most people lack knowledge about Lantana Camara.
“Some people use it as a hedge and this is a clear sign that many people do not have knowledge about it being one of the most hazardous weeds,” Mafuka said.
EMA Masvingo district field officer Celestino Uriga said the battle against the evergreen shrub cannot be won in a single year and they are encouraging communities to use mechanical techniques to eradicate the plant.
“The battle against Lantana Camara cannot be won in a single year. We urge communities to use mechanical methods rather than chemical ways in destroying the alien plant. The plant affects the soil conditions such as the soil Ph and this will also affect the growth of other plants.
“We encourage communities to clear and revegitate the cleared area to enhance ecosystem restoration. Efforts are being made to eradicate the alien plant in the province,” said Uriga.
The plant can also reduce grazing land for livestock and arable land.
In Zimbabwe agriculture is regarded as the backbone of the country’s economy with cattle and other livestock being a source of wealth and living in most rural areas.
Masvingo provincial agronomist Sabina Chaduka said the invasive plant threaten food security as it shrinks arable land leaving farmers with little land for farming purposes.
“The plant is highly prolific. It spreads very fast in a short period. It can probably reduce arable land,” said Chaduka.
Lenin Chisaira an environmental lawyer and Director of Advocates for Earth said Zimbabwe’s environmental laws give duty upon owners of lands, traditional leaders as well as local authorities to clear invasive species.
“Invasive alien species pose a significant danger to the local environment, especially to indigenous plants and animals. Section 118 to section 127 of the Environmental Management Act deals with the legal and control aspects of alien invasive species in Zimbabwe.
“The Act gives a duty upon occupiers, owners of lands as well as traditional leaders and local authorities the duty to clear or cause to be cleared and any invasive alien species on their lands and to report the occurrence of any invasive alien species to inspectors from EMA. It also gives EMA inspectors the power to enter any land to check for invasive alien species and the power also to clear such species at the expense of the land occupier.
“The Act also give local authorities the power to make by-laws compelling occupiers of land within the area of the local authority to keep their land free from invasive alien species,” said Chisaira.
The offence for not acting on invasive species is placed under level eight (8) of the standard scale of fines and is pegged at a fine of ZW$ 50 000.
He also said the environmental laws are not being implemented and the responsible authorities should up their game in enforcing the Act.
“The environmental laws are not being implemented enough. I suggest EMA should start with fining local authorities who are not acting on invasive alien species in their jurisdictions. EMA should also impose fines on state authorities on whose land invasive alien species are found,” he said.
In the province, lantana camara is also threatening the tourism sector.
In 2019 the United States (US) Embassy injected US$ 475 000 towards the clearing of Lantana Camara that is threatening the Great Zimbabwe monuments.
The monuments are recognised as a world heritage site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Masvingo regional director Lovemore Mandima said they have succeeded in clearing Lantana Camara on the hill complex.
“Lantana had over the years obliterated the walls and platforms in that area. It is hoped that by the end of the project, visitors will be able to better appreciate the terraced platforms and walls around the Hill Complex.
“We managed to clear the southern terraced areas of the hill complex during the first phase and we are planning to start the second phase in March. Clearance of lantana was done using both by mechanical and chemical means. A herbicide known as Kaput was applied to the cut stem,” said Mandima.
He also said technical advice in the project has been offered by the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa.
Developing strategies to adapt to the invasion can be a better way to go.
In India some rural communities have turned to lantana Camara as the raw material for basket and furniture production.
In Zimbabwe, rural industrialisation and gradual change of livelihoods to furniture making using the plant in the rural communities that are battling with the invasive plant can also be a way to solve and adapt to the Lantana Camara invasion in communities.
Also combined efforts from various stakeholders can be a way tackle the problem.
